Chapter 49: The Crimson Stand
The Ironfang border blazed with the fury of war, the air saturated with the deafening roars of Hellbound Beasts and the sharp clang of steel against steel, the midday sun a relentless overseer casting harsh light over the scarred landscape. Dust and smoke swirled, the ground trembling under the weight of the intensified assault, the coppery tang of blood mingling with the scorched scent of earth. Lin Xuan stood at the forefront, his crimson eyes blazing with unyielding resolve, the power of his 7th Layer Qi Transformation surging as he led with Severed Crimson Unity Slash—a masterful blend of Crimson Blood Crystallization Art and Scriptures of Severed Unity. The technique sliced through the air, a crimson arc that cleaved an Ironfang cultivator in two, his scream cut short as blood sprayed the ground. "Push forward—don't give them an inch!" he shouted, his voice rough with exertion, wiping sweat from his brow as he steadied his stance.
Liu Yue, her 3rd Layer Qi Transformation qi flowing with Frost Phoenix Cry, supported him, her snowflake mark blazing as she unleashed a wave of icy energy that froze a beast's maw mid-roar, its body crashing to the ground. "I've got your left, Senior Brother—keep them coming!" she called, her moonlight eyes alight with determination, her raven hair streaked with frost. Liu Yang, his 9th Layer Body Refining qi a powerhouse, swung his blood-forged glaive with a grunt, shattering an enemy shield, his young face grim despite the strain of his identity crisis. "I'll hold the center—don't let up!" he yelled, his voice thick with effort, the weight of his lineage a silent burden.
Bai Ningxue, her 6th Layer Qi Transformation aura a steady glow, reinforced the line with Ji Yunjing, his 3rd Layer Profound Heavenly Realm presence a beacon as he directed the Azure River Guards. "Hold steady—reinforcements are coming!" Ji Yunjing shouted, his silk robes fluttering, his voice carrying a newfound confidence, though his eyes darted to the horizon with concern. Bai Ningxue wove her Thousand Lotus Seal Art, her seals shimmering as she bolstered the defenses. "I'll keep their curses at bay—focus on the fight!" she said, her spirited tone a lifeline amidst the chaos. The battlefield shuddered as internal battles erupted, Hei Clan necromancers emerging from the shadows, their dark qi lashing at loyalist troops with skeletal hands and eerie chants. "Traitors!" a guard cried, his voice breaking as he fell under a curse.
Lin Xuan seized a brief moment, planting Crimson Vein Suppression traps amidst the fray, their crimson threads weaving a deadly lattice that snared a necromancer, his scream echoing as the trap tightened. "This'll thin their numbers," Lin Xuan muttered to Liu Yue, his tone weary but resolute, the air thick with the scent of blood and the promise of a turning tide. The clash stretched into the afternoon, the ground littered with the fallen, the stand a testament to their unity as the enemy's advance faltered, their roars fading into the dust. "We're holding—for now," Lin Xuan said, his voice a mix of relief and anticipation, the crimson stand a beacon of hope amidst the war's fury.